Method and system for a quality software management process

ABSTRACT

A quality management framework system and method for operating a quality plan in a product development organization having quality objectives. The system includes a plurality of computer implemented tools accessible by users for operating a plurality of quality processes. Data relative to the quality processes is collected and aggregated to generate quality reports. Reports are analyzed and problems are detected through a defect prevention process. Quality actions are initiated in a feedback quality management action tracking process.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to software management, and more particularly to a quality software management method and system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Software has become a fundamental element in the development of most projects. In the past, for small and medium-sized installations, software development was under the control of a relatively small team who managed the overall software development strategy.

[0003] Today, however, difficulties arise for complex and large-sized organizations when heterogeneous teams work together, i.e. teams of different sizes, located in distant geographies, using multiple technologies, wherein several software developments are conducted in parallel and integrated in a common system, and for which the workflow of information is dynamically managed.

[0004] As an example of a complex project, it is useful to consider the “Space Program”. This program is of enormous complexity, and includes building and delivering component modules of the space station, delivering the modules to the site in space, assembling the modules, and training astronauts in the operation and maintenance of the assembled space station. The modules are distributed over many geographical sites in different countries of the world, and in space.

[0005] Another example of a complex project from the commercial arena is the creation of a global e-business service, or the transfer of the commercial activity of a large corporation to the worldwide market using the internet and e-commerce.

[0006] A further example is the organization of a large-scale sporting event, such as the Olympic Games. Among thousands of actions, the project includes delivering a technological infra-structure, computer system applications, telecommunications systems, and also training and deploying staffs, defining processes for the collection and dissemination of scores to the media for the duration of the sporting events, the whole project being conduct under very tight schedules.

[0007] Software Management is a recognized knowledge area in major industrial and commercial activities, and covers several management disciplines such as Project Management or Risk Management, each having its own tools and methods of analysis.

[0008] Another discipline of concern is Software Quality Management. Software Quality Management has been defined in the literature as being the concepts, methods, techniques, procedures, and standards for producing high-quality software products in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

[0009] Some Software Quality Management methodologies exist, such as the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) from the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, or the Rational Unified Process (RUP) from Rational Software Corporation in California.

[0010] However, none of the existing methods adequately address the complexity encountered in large-scale projects. Mature and accepted software quality management methodologies for large technology programs do not exist, nor do methods for the dynamic management and integration of the workflow.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention is directed towards solving these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a Quality Management framework integrated with everyday work tools.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a method and system to be easily deployed in any heterogeneous development environment of any software development organization or project.

[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and system to dynamically improve the workflow processes of any software development organization or project by operating feedback actions.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method to produce consistent and structured reports including data related to each process of the project.

[0016] The objects are achieved by a quality management framework system including a plurality of computer implemented tools accessible by the users for operating a plurality of quality processes. Data relative to the quality processes is collected and aggregated to generate a plurality of respective quality reports. Process defects are detected through a defect prevention tool, and quality actions are initiated in a feedback quality management action tracking process.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, a computer implemented method for operating a quality plan in a product development organization comprising a plurality of members and having quality objectives for product development projects, comprises the steps of:

[0018] defining a set of quality processes adapted to the quality objectives required by the organization;

[0019] defining a set of computer implemented quality tools to collect data relative to the product development projects, said quality tools comprising at least a database to store the collected data;

[0020] for each quality process, aggregating a set of the stored data to generate a respective quality report;

[0021] analyzing each quality report to detect problems in the product development projects; and

[0022] using the results of the analyzing step to initiate actions to resolve the problems detected, thereby improving the quality of the product development projects.

[0023] The invention further provides a method for operating a quality plan wherein the set of quality processes are preferably:

[0024] a tracking process for identifying issues or change or risk items in the product development projects;

[0025] a meeting set-up and reporting process for preparing and conducting meetings between a plurality of the organization's members;

[0026] a daily headlights reporting process for allowing short communications between the organization's members;

[0027] a documentation process for reviewing and accepting documents generated by the product development projects;

[0028] an inspection process for determining deliverables generated by product development projects to be reworked; and

[0029] a metrics process for producing metrics for data relative to the product development projects.

[0030] The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as these and other related objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 is a general view of the database used to store the information generated by the different processes of the invention.

[0032]FIG. 2 is a diagram representing a sequence of quality processes to operate the method of the invention.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the Internal Project Management Process of the invention.

[0034]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the Meeting Set-up and Reporting Process of the invention.

[0035]FIG. 6-a is a flow chart of the Documentation Review Process of the invention.

[0036]FIG. 6-b is a flow chart of the Documentation Acceptance 6-b Process of the invention.

[0037]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the Quality Inspections Process of the invention.

[0038]FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the Metrics Process of the invention.

[0039]FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the Defect Prevention Process of the invention.

[0040]FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the Quality Management Actions Process of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] The present invention is described with reference to a specific example of a complex project, namely supporting Olympic Games by a Software Development Organization ‘SDO’. To put the size of the program that supports the Olympic Games in perspective, it is useful to mention certain statistics concerning the Year 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia. About 10,300 athletes competed in 28 sports conducted over 640 morning, afternoon, and evening sessions at 30 venues. In addition to the athletes, there were 5,100 officials, 50,000 volunteer workers, and 12,000 accredited media representatives. The broadcast audience was estimated to be 3.5 billion. The main stadium, at which the Athletics were conducted, has a capacity of 110,000 spectators.

[0042] In terms of computing and telecommunications resources, 80 IBM MQ series servers and 3 IBM S/390 mainframes were deployed. Additionally, there were 17,000 desktop and portable computing devices in use, as well as numerous other peripheral devices such as printers, validators, and displays. An estimated 13 million lines of program code were written to implement all the necessary applications, with numerous actors involved.

[0043] Before describing the system of the invention, and as a guide to what follows, some terms employed in this document are first defined:

[0044] a problem: any issue, defect or trouble. To solve a problem, a Quality Action is created;

[0045] an issue: a problem in the Project Management, such as a delay in delivery, a lack of resources, or a financial issue. An issue is handled by an Internal Project Management Tracking process;

[0046] a defect: a problem in the product reported by a Test Team to be subjected to a Quality Inspection;

[0047] a trouble: a problem in a single team such a Project Team due to process disadjustments, miscommunication, or lack of skills. A trouble is reported as a Quality Action Proposal or in a Project Status Meeting.

[0048] The Quality Management Framework ‘QMF’ system of the present invention is defined by processes and tools to be used by heterogenous teams that must work together. Heterogeneous means of different sizes, using different technologies, and having different schedulings or development processes. To operate the QMF system, several kinds of Teams or Offices are defined:

[0049] The Project Management Office ‘PMO’, which is responsible for the Product and Project Planning;

[0050] The Documentation Management Office ‘DMO’, which is responsible for Documentation Management and its associated processes (the Documentation Review Process and the Documentation Acceptance Process, which are described below);

[0051] The Quality Management Office ‘QMO’, which is responsible for defining and controlling Quality by creating appropriate processes and tools which support Quality Management; and the Project Teams ‘PT’, which are responsible for development, support, and test activities for a clearly defined set of deliverables or functions to be implemented as subprojects. From the Quality standpoint, the ‘PT’ create and own Quality Plans in order to achieve the Quality Management objectives defined by the Quality Management Office. The ‘PT’ are, for example, an Infrastructure & Operations Team, a Laboratory Setting & Support Team, a System Integration Testing Team, an Architecture & Technology Team, a Development Team, and a Product & Project Management Team.

[0052] To be more precise on the role of the actors of the Organization, the Project Management Office ‘PMO’is responsible for:

[0053] defining the main requirements of the Project (the “Product Management”);

[0054] producing and controlling the Development Plan and Test Plan;

[0055] allocating resources for the Project tasks; and

[0056] controlling costs of the Project.

[0057] The Documentation Management Office is responsible for:

[0058] defining the documentation workflows; and

[0059] ensuring that the teams conform to the workflow.

[0060] The Quality Management Office is responsible for:

[0061] designing a Quality Master Plan;

[0062] helping the Project Teams in writing their own Quality Plans, and certifying the Quality Plans according to the Quality Master Plan criteria;

[0063] designing an End-to-End Quality Plan;

[0064] controlling continous improvement of the Quality Plans design and implementation; and

[0065] applying a method for deploying the Quality Management System in an Organization.

[0066] The QMO performs additional tasks in order to promote the concept of Total Quality. Such extra actions may be to:

[0067] educate the teams on how to implement their Quality Plans;

[0068] provide periodic reports, in addition to reports generated by request;

[0069] establish continous and direct communication with the Project Team Leaders in order to help and improve Quality Management; and

[0070] organize ad-hoc Quality reviews when the established control parameters fall out of the objectives.

[0071] The Project Teams are responsible for:

[0072] designing the Project Team Quality Plans;

[0073] producing the Quality Workproducts agreed in the Quality Plans; and

[0074] implementing the Preventive or Corrective Actions agreed when applying the Quality Management Procedures designed in the Quality Plans.

[0075] On top of a Quality Management system, a Quality Master Plan is defined for the overall Quality Assurance of the Project. The Master Plan consists of defining the roles and responsibilities of the actors, the main schedule, and the common tools and techniques to be used. To document the Quality Management system, several documents are created:

[0076] Quality Master Plan Document: This document describes the general Quality Policy and Plans.

[0077] Project Teams Quality Plan Documents: These documents detail how every team implements the Quality Master Plan recommendations.

[0078] End-to-End Quality Plan Document: This document details how to achieve Customer Satisfaction (considering Customers in a wide perspective, i.e. external customers, internal customers, and end users) and Quality across the project.

[0079] Quality Management Database Document: This document describes the QMD database and other related databases wherein measures and controls are stored and shared.

[0080] Preferably, the Project Teams Quality Plan and the End-to-End Quality Plan contain several sections:

[0081] a Project Description, which is a brief description of what the Organization is going to produce for the Project, how it is organized, and the names and contacts of the persons responsible for the different areas,

[0082] a Process Description that describes all the processes within the corresponding Organization. Preferably, there is a description of the phases, the activities within the phases, and the tasks within the activities. A complete description of the actors, the concrete tasks, and the input and output workproducts between activities may be provided as well. In addition, the Process Description may specify which concrete tasks in the different activities are Quality Actions,

[0083] a tools inventory to list the tools used in the processes,

[0084] customer satisfaction requirements,

[0085] and other sections such as measurements, goals, or risks and dependencies.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the ‘QMF’ system of the invention is launched in a new Organization or Project, with the advantage of building the culture of use at the same time that the tool is developed. This reduces resistance to new methods and allows better adaptation of the different components to real needs. In another embodiment, the system of the invention is adapted to existing Quality control procedures of an organization.

[0087] As already explained, the ‘QMF’ system of the present invention includes processes and tools. Before describing the different processes, the tools are now explained with reference to FIG. 1.

[0088]FIG. 1 shows the set of databases 100 used to store the information generated by the different processes of the QMF system. It is to be appreciated that these databases are shown on a unique system for simplicity of description rather than limitation. The databases could be distributed on several systems or on any other configuration of remote servers.

[0089] A first database 102 stores data related to the Internal Project Management Tracking process, the ‘IPMT’ database. A second database 104 stores data related to the Documentation process, the ‘DRD’ database. A third database 106 stores data related to the Quality Inspection Tracking process, the ‘QIT’ database. A fourth database 108 stores data related to the Quality Management Actions process, the ‘QMA’ database. Finally, a fifth database 110 stores data related to the Meeting Set-up and Reporting process and to the Metrics process, and has respective connections with the other databases. This fifth database 110 is designated as the Quality Management Database ‘QMD’ in the description.

[0090] Each database comprises a plurality of records created during the process operations, as will be further detailed for each process. The databases are preferably accessible through a user friendly interface, such as the Lotus Notes Graphical User Interface (GUI) from Lotus Corporation, and offer the user several views of the concerned process and/or of associated processes. The views are accessible through standard buttons in a navigation area.

[0091]FIG. 2 is a diagram representing a sequence of quality processes to operate the ‘QMF’ method of the invention. The method includes operating several processes numbered 202 to 212 during which data from the Project Teams activities are collected. Although six processes are shown in FIG. 2, any other higher or lower number could be operated depending on the structure of the Organization. A significant advantage of the Quality Management Framework of the present invention is that it allows such flexibility, the only requirement being to implement the QMF on a common or integrated platform.

[0092] A reporting activity 214 generates quality reports from the data collected. The quality reports are analyzed in an analyzing activity 216, and problems are tracked in a defect prevention process 218. The results of the prevention process 218 feed a quality action process 220 to initiate specific actions to improve the Quality Plan.

[0093] Each process is now described in more detail, and for sake of clarity, the same descriptive formalism is applied to each. First, a definition of terms is given; next, the roles of the main actors are defined; then detailed descriptions of the process and the associated tools are given.

[0094] Description of the IPMT process:

[0095] The first process 202, namely the Internal Project Management Tracking Process ‘IPMT’, tracks Issues or Risks or Changes in the different projects.

[0096] Definitions for IPMT Process:

[0097] Issue Management: a process to ensure that all issues are fixed with minimum impact to the project. This system covers:

[0098] the identification and the capture of each issue;

[0099] the appointment of an action manager to be responsible resolving each issue as soon as possible and in the best way; and

[0100] the logging and periodic reviews of all outstanding issues.

[0101] Risk Management: A risk is defined as a possible undesirable and unplanned event that could result in the project's not meeting one or more of its objectives. The objectives of the Risk Management procedure are:

[0102] To identify those risks that may impact the project;

[0103] To build a Risk Containment Plan as the basis of the Risk Management Procedure;

[0104] To ensure that each risk is analyzed for probability and impact;

[0105] To ensure that there is an agreed containment plan for each risk. The plan might be “no action”;

[0106] To identify an appropriate individual contingency plan, as part of the containment plan, for high risks;

[0107] To allocate ownership for the risk and its containment plan to an Action Manager;

[0108] To establish and monitor a procedure for reviewing and evaluating risks on an on-going basis, adding new risks, removing obsolete risks, and updating current risks; and

[0109] To report the status of current risks to the appropriate authorities; for example to a Board of directors.

[0110] Change Management: during the projects, decisions are made to optimize the code or to improve functionality. These may imply changes in the initial requirements. Such changes may impact the initial specifications, planning, schedule, and people involved in the project, even though specified by the contract (terms and conditions, documents, deliverables, costs, and so on). The right analysis, control, and tracking of all requested changes (accepted, postponed, or even rejected changes) will enable precise estimation of their impact upon the whole project. The objective of this is to avoid the non-fulfilment of schedule and cost. The objectives of the Change Management procedure are:

[0111] To manage each request for change to ensure that the scope of the Project is kept under control;

[0112] To ensure each request for change is assessed by key project players;

[0113] To allow each change to be accepted (or rejected or deferred) by the appropriate authority;

[0114] To enable the orderly implementation of each accepted change;

[0115] To allow the impact of all changes to be understood and managed, according to the specific characteristics of the Project;

[0116] To allow small changes to be managed with the minimum of overhead.

[0117] To Raise an Issue/Risk/Change: To open one of these processes in the respective database. This activity can be done by any project member.

[0118] To Analyze an Issue/Risk/Change. After opening it in the database, it is assigned an Action Manager, an Actioner, or a Responsible (for issue, risk, and change), a Priority, and a Target Date. The item is monitored by the Project Team Leader responsible for its solution.

[0119] To Close an Issue/Risk/Change. The decisions taken to resolve the Issue, Risk, or Change Request are communicated to every member of the project, and the item is accepted as resolved and closed. This might trigger a Quality Management action.

[0120] Roles for IPMT Process:

[0121] SDO member. Any person working for the Software Delevopment Organization.

[0122] Project Status Group. Attendees to the Project Status Meetings. Typically, these are the Project Team Leaders and the Software Development Organization Board of Directors.

[0123] Project Team Leader. The person responsible for managing a Project Team in the Software Development Organization.

[0124] Issue/Risk/Change Actioner. The person responsible for implementing or controlling the implementation of the necessary tasks in order to be able to close the Issue/Risk/change.

[0125] Detailed Description of the IPMT Process:

[0126] The Project Management Office in the Software Development Organization is responsible for controlling the evolution of the project in terms of objectives achievement, scheduling, and delivering. In this context, they focus on Issues Tracking, Risks Tracking, and Changes Tracking. These topics are reviewed based on information stored in an Internal Project Management Tracking Database. Preferably, the database is implemented in the form of three databases: one for Issues, one for Risks, and one for Change Requests. Specific logic is also implemented to support automatic procedures for communicating status changes to the interested parties and for creating lists of opened and closed issues/risks/change requests for reporting and management purposes in the ‘PMO’.

[0127] The content of each database includes records for all the Issues, the Risks, and the Change Requests. Every record is independent, and contains in dedicated fields the relevant information including, but not limited to, history, status and pending actions.

[0128] The following tables 1 through 5 show the Issue/Risk/Change records example and the associated task. TABLE 1 Issue Record Fields Description Raised by Name and role of the person who raised the Issue Date raised Date of request Number A conventioned number Issue type Solvable by PM or To be escalated Status Open, Closed Title Short description Detailed Long description Description Priority High, Medium, Low Resolution Of the issue - Actions to be taken Target Date DD/MM/YY Action Team Leader responsible for the resolution Manager Impact in Other related areas (from Software Development Organization and other) Other doc. (Comments)

[0129] TABLE 2 Associated Task to Issue Record Fields Description Project Project A, Project B . . . Subproject Subproject 1, Subproject 2 . . . Issue (Title) Date Raised DD/MM/YY Action Owner (Name) Action Target Date DD/MM/YY Issue Target Date DD/MM/YY Action Subject (Title) Description (Comment) Current Status Open, Closed

[0130] TABLE 3 Risk Record Fields Description Opened by Name and role of the person who raised the risk Open Date Date of request Number A conventioned number Actioner (Name) Status Open, Closed Title Short description Detailed Long description Description Priority High, Medium, Low Risk Impact In percentage Risk In percentage Probability Evaluation (Comments) Criteria Risk and (dollars) Action Cost Containment Description of the plan and date Plan/Date

[0131] TABLE 4 Associated Task to Risk Record Fields Description Project Project A, Project B . . . Subproject Subproject 1, Subproject 2 . . . Risk (Title) Date Raised DD/MM/YY Action Owner (Name) Action Target Date DD/MM/YY Risk Target Date DD/MM/YY Action Subject (Title) Description (Comment) Current Status Open, Closed

[0132] TABLE 5 Change Request Record Fields Description Raised by Name and role of the person who raise the Change request Date raised Date of request Number A conventioned number Client Number Number assigned by customer Type of Contract or Project change Status Open, Closed Title Short description Detailed Long description Description Priority High, Medium, Low Benefits Description of all needed tasks Impact in Other related areas (from Software Development Organization and other) Date Required DD/MM/YY Responsible (Name) Cost Comments and dollars Decision Accepted, Defered, Rejected, Withdrawn

[0133] As shown in FIG. 3, the IPMT process begins at step 302 with the task of raising an Issue and/or a Risk and/or a Change. This operation is done during periodic Project Status Meetings bringing together all the Project Team Leaders and Managers. At the beginning of every meeting, responsibility for recording the item is designated, and the corresponding form is completed and stored in the appropriate database.

[0134] Step 302 preferably is divided into three tasks as shown in the following table, which shows these tasks in the first left-hand column. The second column indicates the actors that perform the corresponding tasks (an automatic task directly executed by the computer system is mentioned as ‘Auto.’). The third column indicates the kinds of inputs used for performing the corresponding task, and the fourth column indicates the outputs resulting from the task: TABLE 6 Step 302 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Create an I/R/C form SDO none An I/R/C with status in the IPMT database Member “Open” Fill Date and I/R/C id Auto. Date I/R/C in the I/R/C form Communicate with Team Auto. I/R/C List of I/R/Cs Leader about the new form created

[0135] The first task is to create an Issue or Risk or Change form in the IPMT database. Next, the date and a number id are automatically indicated, and the Team Leader concerned is informed of the the newly created form.

[0136] Going back to step 304 of FIG. 2, the newly created form is analyzed in order to determine the actions needed to resolve the concern. Again, this step is preferably divided into tasks with appropriate actors/inputs and outputs, as shown in the following table: TABLE 7 Step 304 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Review List of I/R/Cs Project List of List of I/R/C to be Status I/R/Cs Opened and Closed Group Assign Actioner, Project List of I/R/C Opened Priority and Due Date Status I/R/Cs to for I/R/Cs to be Group be Opened Opened Close I/R/Cs not to be Project List of I/R/C Closed Opened Status QMA Group Proposals to be Closed Communicate the Opened Team List of — I/R/Cs to Actioners Leader I/R/Cs Opened Design and implement Actioner I/R/C — necessary actions to Opened achieve objectives of the assigned I/R/C Describe list of Actioner I/R/C I/R/C Opened + List actions performed for Opened of Actions the I/R/C Performed Communicate Project Team I/R/C — Status Group Leader Opened + List of Actions Performed

[0137] The last step of FIG. 2 is a closing step 306, which includes the tasks of reviewing the actions to check if the objectives are achieved, and to communicate to the appropriate person the closing decision, as shown in the next table: TABLE 8 Step 306 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Review Actions Project I/R/C I/R/C Closed performed and check Status Opened + objectives achieved Group List of Actions Performed Communicate to Team I/R/C — Actioner and Opener Leader Closed that I/R/C has been closed

[0138] The IPMT process is accessible thru a GUI interface, which offers the user several views accessible through standard buttons in the navigation area, such as views by project, by sub-project, by number, by action manager, and by status, as well as special views of opened and closed issues.

[0139] In each view, the main parameters of the Issue/Risk/Change record are available with brief descriptions. Associated actions are included as response documents. When a new Issue/Risk/Change is opened, the record includes all the relevant data. The status of the Issue/Risk/Change record automaticaly changes, helping the user to follow the workflow defined by the Internal Project Management Tracking Process.

[0140] Description of the Meeting and Set-Up Process:

[0141] Referring back to FIG. 2, column 204 shows a Meeting Set-up and Reporting process, which is described with reference to FIG. 4. This process is identical for every type of meeting, and is used to prepare and report meetings. An actor of the Organization prepares a meeting in step 402 and opens a meeting record in the meeting database 110. The agenda of the meeting is communicated to all participants. When the meeting is held in step 404, the same meeting record is used to store all the information generated during the meeting, including discussed documents. While the meeting is in process, it is possible to automatically generate an action, which may be communicated directly to actioners through an e-mail tool that contains a link to the record reporting the meeting. In this way, each person who needs to complete an action receives all the necessary information in the mail. Afterwards, the actions can be completed and reviewed using the same tools.

[0142] Definitions for the Meeting and Set-Up Process:

[0143] Preparing a Meeting: this operation includes all required tasks for preparing a Meeting, such as selecting the type of meeting, writing an agenda, selecting the Attendees, distributing material to Attendees, and so forth.

[0144] Conducting a Meeting: a formal process of opening, conducting, and closing a meeting, moderating the Attendees, reporting minutes and conclusions, and creating or updating corresponding records in databases.

[0145] Roles for the Meeting and Set-Up Process:

[0146] Meeting Initiator: a person who plans a meeting, setting up expectations, agenda, and selecting Attendees.

[0147] Moderator: the person who leads the meeting, keeping in mind the objectives, helping the attendees work as a team, and promoting participation of all Attendees in a way suitable to contribute to the results in a significantly.

[0148] Recorder: a person responsible for capturing and recording the minutes and conclusions of a meeting in the databases 100 of the QMF system. He opens Actions, Issues, and other items upon conclusion of the meeting, including cross references for easier tracking afterwards.

[0149] Attendee: a person who actively attends the meeting and contributes to the results with opinions, conclusions, decisions, or responsibility for follow-on actions.

[0150] Observer: a person who attends the meeting but does not participate actively, and who has no defined role in this process.

[0151] Detailed Description of the Meeting and Set-Up Process:

[0152] As already explained, this process is used for preparing and conducting meetings. The process is the same for all the meetings, except those of the Quality Inspection process and the Defect Prevention process, which will be described later. However, some details may vary from type to type of meeting.

[0153] In the first step 402, several tasks are accomplished (on column TASKS) to prepare a meeting, as shown in the following table 9. The ‘ACTORS’ column indicates the person responsible for executing the task, the ‘INPUTS’ and ‘OUTPUTS’ columns respectively indicate the information used and generated for/by the task. Tables appearing in the rest of this document are to be read in the same manner. TABLE 9 Step 402 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Select type of Meeting — Meeting Report meeting, schedule Initiator created Date, Time and Location for Meeting Select Attendees and Meeting Meeting Invitations sent Observers and send Initiator Report to Observers and invitations Attendees Distribute Material Meeting Meeting Materials distributed within Attendees and Initiator Report, uted and linked to Observers Materials Meeting Report Confirmation of Attendees — Meeting confirmed attendance and or cancelled Observers

[0154] First, an agenda is built (date, time, location) and communicated to all appropriate persons, and then the useful material is distributed.

[0155] When the meeting is held in step 404, all minutes are recorded in the meeting database 110 by the reporter and, when the meeting is finished, all related data are sent again to the attendees. Table 10 below shows the different tasks of the conducting step 404. TABLE 10 Step 404 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Open Meeting Moderator Meeting Meeting Report Report ready to be updated Review Materials Attendees Meeting Meeting Report and Report, with minutes Moderator Materials Discuss Actions Attendees Meeting Actions created, and Report Meeting Report Recorder, with Actions Moderator linked Conclusions Attendees Meeting Meeting Report and Report with conclusions Recorder Close Meeting Moderator Meeting Actions reviewed, Report Meeting Report reviewed and closed

[0156] The Meeting and set-up process is accessible thru a GUI interface, which offers the user several views of the meetings categorized by type. Each type is accessible through standard buttons in the navigation area to allow creation of an associated meeting record in the Quality Management database 110. The record is displayed as a form to be completed following the required process (Meeting Setup & Review Process, Quality Inspections Process and Defect Prevention Process). The form includes all necessary data to later report the meeting during a reporting process 214, such as date and time, attendees, agenda, and so forth, and may also include links to the reviewed documents in the Documentation database 104, links to the Quality Actions in the Quality Actions database 108, and links to the Quality Inspection Database 106.

[0157] In a preferred embodiment, the Meeting GUI interface also offers links for “Reports”, “Documentation” and “Quality Measurements” to access other sections of the Quality Management database 110.

[0158] The next tables 11 to 14 show examples of reporting records for different types of meetings. TABLE 11 - External Project Evolution Revision Meeting Reporting Record - Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Board of directors Executive Team Project Teams affected Project A, Project B . . . Board of directors Reviewers (Names) Project Teams Attendees (Names) Main Topics Reviewed (List of Topics) Issues, Risks or Changes raised (References to IPMT) Quality Management Actions identified (References to QMA) Revision Report Responsible Signature (Name)

[0159] TABLE 12 - Project Status Meeting Reporting Record - Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Project Teams affected Project A, Project B . . . Meeting Attendees (Names) Main Topics Reviewed (List of Topics) Issues, Risks or Changes raised (References to IPMT) Quality Management Actions identified (References to QMA) Meeting Report Responsible Signature (Name)

[0160] TABLE 13 - General Purpose Meeting Reporting Record - Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Meeting Attendees (Names) Meeting Room (Name of meeting room) Agenda - Subject (List of topics in the agenda) Agenda - Description (List of descriptions of topics) Miscellaneous (Comments and attachments) Meeting Responsible Signature (Name)

[0161] TABLE 14 - Quality Management Meeting Reporting Record - Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Project Teams affected Project A, Project B . . . Meeting Attendees (Names) Main Topics Reviewed (List of Topics) Documents Reviewed (List of References to QMD) Quality Management Actions identified (References to QMATS) Meeting Report Responsible Signature (Name)

[0162] Description of the Daily Headlight Reporting Process:

[0163] Referring back to FIG. 2, column 206 shows a Daily Headlights Reporting Process, which is now described with reference to FIG. 5. This process consists of a proactive communication of project status from Team Leaders to Executives of the Software Development Organization at a predetermined frequency. In the preferred embodiment applied to the Olympics, the Headlight reports were generated daily, although other frequencies may be used. The contents of the communication are fixed and short, based on predetermined concepts, such as:

[0164] Main achievements of the day;

[0165] Changes to the Plan;

[0166] Help Needed;

[0167] “Things that Keep Me Awake at Night”.

[0168] Definitions for the Daily Headlight Reporting Process:

[0169] Producing Daily Headlight Report: A Team Leader accesses the Quality Management Database 110 and generates an executive report with all basic Headlights data (defined as Accomplishments, Changes to the Plan or Delays, Help Needed, and “Things that keep me awake at night”). This can be done anytime before consolidation.

[0170] Consolidating Daily Headlight Reports. Every day (at roughly the same time, once the last Reports are accepted for the day), the Quality Management Office consolidates all reports from the teams into a single executive report collecting all the information in the same format. The structure of the Quality Management database provides the report automatically, and sends the report to the executives distribution list.

[0171] Creating Issues based on Daily Headlight Reports. Based on this single report, Executives create proper Issue Records in the Issue database 102, at which point they may take immediate action.

[0172] Producing Weekly Headlight Conclusions. Every week, QMO produces a summary report for executives based on the consolidated daily reports. Part of this summary report is generated automatically, and part requires statistical and manual summarization.

[0173] Roles for the Daily Headlight Reporting Process:

[0174] Quality Management Office (QMO). A department within the Software Development Organization, responsible for the quality management of the organization, including the definition, review, and measurement of the organization's processes.

[0175] Project Team Leader. The person responsible for a Project or Sub-project within the Software Development Organization. He is aware of all important data regarding his project, so he is able to report the Daily Headlight. In addition, the person is able to talk with the Executive to clarify the facts reported.

[0176] Executive. A member of the Software Development Organization Board of Directors. He needs to be aware of any issues requiring authorizations or support and coordination from the main organizations. He can answer the requests of the Project Team Leaders. He may be ultimately responsible in an escalation of any issue or exception to the normal processes.

[0177] Detailed Description of the Daily Headlight Reporting Process:

[0178] The Daily Headlight Reporting Process is intended to give the Team Leaders an opportunity to provide information to the Executives on a daily basis in the following areas: Main achievements, Changes to the Plan, Help Needed and “Things that Keep Me Awake at Night”. Daily Headlight reports are sent by Team Leaders or Managers to Executives in order to summarize important information which requires immediate action. Consolidated summary reports are produced by QMO periodically in order to summarize the main concerns in the Organization.

[0179] In step 502, a headlight report is produced in QMD. The report is intended to keep Executives aware of Main achievements and/or Changes to the Plan, and also to request help/actions (the Help Needed and/or ‘Things that Keep Me Awake at Night’). Other entries could be devised in another kind of Organization, but the principle is that only important information which cannot be communicated by other means may be included in this process. Periodicity of the process may be changed, and a weekly report may be adopted if the volume of information is too large or if the urgency of the requirements by the Team Leaders is not high.

[0180] Table 15 below summarizes the different tasks of the daily headlight report producing step 502. TABLE 15 - Step 502 - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Create Daily Headlight Project - Daily Headlight Report in ‘QMD’ Team Report Leader Fill in & submit: Project Daily Daily Headlight Main achievements Team Headlight Report filled in Leader Report Changes to the Plan (or Delays) Help needed “Things that keep me awake at night”

[0181] In step 504, the daily headlight reports are consolidated. A consolidated headlight report record is created in ‘QMD’ and the report is send to the Executives. Table 16 below summarizes the consolidation step 504. Table 17 shows an example of a consolidated headlight report record. TABLE 16 - Step 504 - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Run consolidation QMO List of Consolidated Report process and send Daily sent by mail to report to Executives Headlight executives Reports

[0182] TABLE 17 - Consolidated Headlight Report Record - Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Comments (General Comments) Owner (List of Names) Accomplishments (List of Comments) Delays (List of Comments) Changes to the Plan (List of Comments) Help needed (List of Comments) Comments (Comments of every team)

[0183] After the consolidated report is sent to the Executive, and if the Executive approves, an Issue is created in the Issue Database 102 in step 506. Notification is sent to the appropriate concerned actors along with a reference or a direct link to the Issue record. Table 18 below summarizes the Issue creation step 506. TABLE 18 - Step 506 - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Study Consolidated Executives Consol. Issues opened Report and open Issues Report in ‘QMD’ in the ‘IPMT’ DB Notify Issues opened QMO Issues E-mail notif. to interested parties opened with Issues linked

[0184] Finally, in step 508, all the consolidated reports over a week are aggregated to generate a conclusion report. A corresponding record is created in ‘QMD’. Table 19 below summarizes the headlight conclusion step 508. Table 20 shows an example of a conclusion record. TABLE 19 - Step 508 - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Produce statistics and QMO Consoli- Weekly Report report based on dated Consolidated Reports Reports of the week ' Issues opened

[0185] TABLE 20 - Conclusion Record - Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Accomplishments (Consolidated Comments) Delays (Consolidated Comments) Changes to the Plan (Consolidated Comments) Help needed (Consolidated Comments) Comments (Consolidated Comments of every team)

[0186] The Daily Headlight and Reporting process is accessible thru a GUI interface, and offers the user several links to access the type of report to be created in the Quality Management database 110.

[0187] Description of the Documentation R&A Process:

[0188] Referring again to FIG. 2, column 208 shows a Documentation Review and Acceptance (R&A) process to be immediately described with reference to FIGS. 6-a and 6-b.

[0189] Definitions for the Documentation R&A Process:

[0190] The Documentation Repository Database (DRD) is a repository of records of the documents created as part of the Project. Some of these records have a corresponding document file stored also in DRD, while others indicate that the document file is located in another repository.

[0191] A vendor is a subcontractor who provides the Software Development Organization with software and related documentation as part of the Project.

[0192] A document workflow is a process by which a draft or a vendor draft becomes a Document Version or Vendor Document Version, respectively. The workflow is determined according to who distributes and who receives the document in question.

[0193] A document draft is a document that is “in the works”; that is, it is a document that has commenced its workflow but has not yet reached its final version.

[0194] A Document Version is a document that has already gone through the whole document workflow, resulting in its final distribution. A distinction is made between Document Versions (Software Development Organization documents) and Vendor Document Versions (vendor documents).

[0195] The DMO Acceptance Checklist is an electronic form that the DMO uses in order to verify whether or not a vendor document complies with certain fundamental criteria that the DMO believes important for the distribution of a Vendor Document Version.

[0196] A document ID is a document's unique label; it is created and used for easy document identification and library management purposes.

[0197] Roles for the Documentation R&A Process:

[0198] Author. A person who writes a document; also, the name given to the person who creates a Documentation record in DRD.

[0199] Reviewer. A person who checks a document for technical or functional errors.

[0200] Editor. A person who reads a Software Development Organization document and provides comments about its structure, grammar, and punctuation; also, a person in the DMO who provides comments about the Vendor Draft and completes the DMO Acceptance Checklist.

[0201] Approver. A person who ratifies the Approval Draft of a Software Development Organization document and gives the sign-off for its distribution.

[0202] Acceptor. A person who ratifies a Vendor Draft and gives the sign-off for its distribution.

[0203] Documentation Management Office (DMO). A department within the Software Development Organization that is responsible for establishing and implementing documentation processes and procedures. The DMO participates in the establishment of these processes and procedures by creating document templates and user guidelines. At the same time, it participates in the implementation by taking part in the Review Process (Software Development Organization documents) and the Acceptance Process (vendor documents).

[0204] Detailed Description of the Documentation R&A Process:

[0205] Every document that is written as part of the Project must be planned and accounted for. Project Team Leaders and Project Leaders record the documents that they plan to distribute using a template located on ‘QMD’ and called here the Documentation Plan Template.

[0206] The team's documents are produced either by someone from the Software Development Organization or by a vendor. By reading a Project Team's documentation plan, other Software Development Organization teams know when that team's information will become available. In particular, the DMO uses each Project Team's documentation plan as a guide for scheduling editorial reviews (Software Development Organization documents) as well as DMO Acceptance Checklist completion (vendor documents).

[0207] The documents managed by the Software Development Organization are classified based on two principal criteria:

[0208] Who distributes the document; that is, the department or company that produces the document; and

[0209] Who receives the document; that is, the department or company to whom the document is delivered.

[0210] Applying these criteria leads to several document workflows:

[0211] W1 for documents delivered to the Software Development Organization by the Software Development Organization;

[0212] W2 for documents delivered to other Organizations in the same Company that are produced by the Software Development Organization;

[0213] W3 for documents delivered to a customer and that are produced by the Software Development Organization; and

[0214] W4 for documents delivered to the Software Development Organization, to another Organization in the same Company, or to a customer, and that are produced by a vendor.

[0215] The Documentation Management Office defines a Documentation Review Process which includes a review workflow for all internally produced documents. Every time a document is created or reviewed, a Document Review Record is stored in the Quality Management Database 110. These records are consolidated in the proper Documentation Quality Report.

[0216] The Documentation Management Office also defines a Documentation Acceptance Process which includes an acceptance workflow for all externally produced documents. Every time a document is created or reviewed, a Document Acceptance Record is stored in the Quality Management Database 110. These records are consolidated in the proper Documentation Quality Report.

[0217] Finally, the Documentation Management Office creates a dedicated database to store all documents handled in the organization, the Documentation Repository Database (DRD) 104. As reviews and acceptance processes are Quality processes, some references to Quality Records regarding documentation reviews are stored in the Quality Management Database 110 and linked to the Documentation Repository Database 104.

[0218] Referring now to FIG. 6-a which shows the steps of the Review process 600, the process begins with step 602 wherein a first draft of a document is reviewed. Table 21 belows details the tasks of the first draft review step for workflows W1, W2 or W3 with the actors and the associated actions. TABLE 21 Sep 602 TASK ACTOR(S) ACTION(S) Storing a Author & DMO Author asks DMO for document ID First Draft DMO provides author with document ID Author creates a Documentation record in ‘QMD’. Author checks that document displays First Draft status. Reviewing a Team Leader, Those specified by the author First Draft team members read and provide comments about (technical and members the document. review) of other Architecture & Development teams acting as reviewers Updating a Author Updates the First Draft with the First Draft comments provided by the reviewers.

[0219] In steps 604,606 and 608, the first draft document is reviewed and called a second draft. Tables 22 and 23 below detail the tasks of the second draft review for each document type (workflow W1 or workflow W2/W3). TABLE 22 Setp 604 for workflow W1 TASK ACTOR(S) ACTION(S) Storing a Author Updates the attachment (if one Second Draft exists) within the Documentation record in DRD; Checks that document now displays Second Draft status. Reviewing a Team Leader, Those specified by the author Second Draft team members check that the new draft level (technical and members reflects their comments and check) of other ensure that it is technically Architecture correct. & Development teams acting as reviewers Reviewing a Test Team Test Team members provide Second Draft acting as a comments in relation to discrepancies (functional reviewer detected between the review) document contents and application functionality. Updating a Author Updates the Second Draft with the Second Draft comments provided by the reviewers.

[0220] TABLE 23 Step 606 or 608 for workflows W2 or W3 TASK ACTOR(S) ACTION(S) Storing a Author Updates the attachment (if one Second Draft exists) within the Documentation record in the DRD; Checks that document now displays Second Draft status. Reviewing a Team Leader, Those specified by the author Second Draft team members check that the new draft level (technical and members reflects their comments and check) of other ensure that it is technically Architecture correct. & Development teams acting as reviewers Reviewing a Test Team Test Team members provide Second Draft acting as a comments in relation to discrepancies (functional reviewer detected between the review) document contents and application functionality. Reviewing a Editor Provides comments in relation to Second Draft the document's structure, grammar (editorial and punctuation. review) Updating a Author Updates the Second Draft with the Second Draft comments provided by the reviewers (and by the editor).

[0221] Alternatively, the editorial review is optional in the second workflow W2.

[0222] Following step 608, a final draft review step 610 is added for the documents delivered to customers. Table 24 below details the final draft review. TABLE 24 Step 610 TASK ACTOR(S) ACTION(S) Storing a Author Updates the attachment (if one Final Draft exists) within the Documentation record in DRD; Checks that document displays Final Draft status. Reviewing a Team Leader, Those specified by the author Final Draft team members in the draft check for errors (technical and members introduced during the writing check) of other of this draft level Architecture Reviewers may ask for small & Development modifications due to last- teams acting minute changes in the code. as reviewers Reviewing a Test Team Test Team members check that the Final Draft acting as a new draft level reflects their (functional reviewer comments and ensure that it is check) functionally correct. Updating a Author Updates the Final Draft with the Final Draft comments provided by the reviewers.

[0223] An approval step 612 follows Steps 604, 606 and 610 to give approval to the last draft. Table 25 below details the Tasks and the Actors in this step. TABLE 25 Step 612 TASK ACTOR(S) ACTION(S) Storing an Author Updates the attachment (if one Approval exists) within the Documentation Draft record in DRD; Checks that document now displays Approval Draft status. Approving an Approvers Those specified by the author Approval approve (or reject) the draft Draft Approvers give sign-off to distribute the document if the document is approved.

[0224] Finally in step 614, the approval draft is stored as a version of document in the DRD database. Table 26 below summarizes the tasks of step 614. TABLE 26 Step 614 TASK ACTOR(S) ACTION(S) Storing a Author Updates the attachment (if one Document exists) within the Documentation Version record in DRD; Checks that document now displays Document Version status.

[0225] Referring now to FIG. 6-b, the documentation acceptance process W4 is described. After the document has been received in step 6002, a document record is created in step 6004 in the Documentation Database 104, and the document is stored in DRD. Next, in step 6008, a list of acceptors is defined in QMD, as well as a due date for accepting or not the vendor document.

[0226] Step 6010 is the formal acceptance operation realized by the acceptors through electronic answers. The list of acceptors is automatically updated when appropriate.

[0227] Finally, if the document has been accepted, the vendor document version is stored in DRD in step 6012. Table 27 below specifies, for each step, the actors and the actions associated. TABLE 27 Workflow W4 TASKS ACTOR(S) ACTION(S) Receiving a PMO Team Receives an electronic file of vendor document Leader acting the vendor document file via as an author electronic mail Creating a PMO Team Creates a Documentation Documentation Leader acting record on the DRD with an record and as an author attachment corresponding to storing a Vendor the vendor document file Draft Checks that document now displays Vendor Draft status Notifies Project Leader and DMO that document has been received. Specifying DMO acting as DMO specifies Acceptors Acceptors & Due editors and (one of them definitely Date, reviewing those assigned being the Project Leader, the Vendor by Software others are as requested) Draft, and Development and Due Date in appropriate completing Organization QMD form checklist in Project Leader DMO informs Architecture & Quality Management acting as Development Manager of Database acceptors acceptor's list DMO editors review the Vendor Draft and fill out the DMO Acceptance Checklist. DMO editors save the completed checklist, located on QMD, which becomes a quality record Additionally, the Test Team (in particular, Lead Testers) may review user documentation together with the code (as per Team Leader request). Accepting a Software Accepts (or rejects) the Vendor Draft Development Vendor Draft. Organization Project Leader acting as an acceptor Storing a Vendor PMO Team Updates the Documentation Document Version Leader acting record in DRD as an author Checks that document now displays Vendor Document Version status.

[0228] As for the already described process, the documentation Review and Acceptance process is accessible to the user through a user friendly GUI interface.

[0229] Description of the Quality Inspection Process:

[0230] Referring again to FIG. 2, column 210 shows a Quality Inspections Process ‘QIP’ which is described with reference to FIG. 7.

[0231] QIP is a process that specifies how Quality Inspections are managed within Development and Test teams. QIP is common for all Teams, although each Project Team may customize its own QIP.

[0232] The objective of Quality Inspections (QIs) is to find Rework Items. This should result in saving time and effort by preventing defects or issues in subsequent phases of the development life cycle. The focus of QIs is on deliverables, either internal or external, from documentation to source code or executables.

[0233] Definitions for the Quality Inspection Process:

[0234] Deliverable: a product developed by the author to be inspected during the Quality Inspection process.

[0235] Rework item: an action associated with an issue or component containing a defect that prevents the author rework from meeting Software Development Organization standards and client requirements. A Rework Item may also include a potential problem or error that causes the author rework to determine if an actual problem or error exists. Rework Items are stored and tracked using the Quality Inspection Records Tracking System and the corresponding form.

[0236] Inspection Materials: an author provides inspectors with inspection materials consisting of the deliverable(s), requirements documents, or other related information.

[0237] Planning QI: the first step of the QIP consists of discussing which topics must be included in the QI Meeting. Planning may be regular or periodic.

[0238] Preparing QI: all required tasks for preparing the QI Meeting, such as distributing material to Inspectors and creating QI Records.

[0239] QI Meeting: the formal process of reviewing Rework Items associated with the opened QI Records. Quality Inspection Meetings results are stored, preferably in QID using Quality Inspection Meeting Forms.

[0240] Re-inspecting/Verifying: resolving rework items, and checking that they are actually resolved.

[0241] Measuring/Delivering: closing QI Records or including them in the next QI loop.

[0242] Roles for the Quality Inspection Process: Initiator: the person who prepares and distributes inspection materials and completes all rework required. His role may include the following tasks: Before QI Plans QI Coordinates with Project Team Leader selecting Participants Schedules QI Meeting Prepares & Distributes Inspection material Reviews Rework Items received from Inspectors During QI Answers Questions about the Deliverable Be prepared to address Rework Items Provides Rework Item resolution date After QI Performs and submits rework for verification and/or reinspection Follows up on all Rework Items until they are verified Project Team Leader: Ensures the QI process is applied to the Project. His role may include the following tasks: Before QI Reviews or discuss project QI plans with the author Ensures compliance with the QI methodology Assists in the selection of QI participants Notifies stakeholders of QI milestone During QI Ensures compliance with the QI methodology After QI Verifies Rework Items are resolved Analyzes and reports project's Rework Items and trends at Project Status Meetings Evaluates the project's QI process and provides input to the QMO as needed Moderator: Leads the QI Meeting. His role may include the following tasks: Before QI — During QI Meeting Introduction: Determines if preparation and attendance are adequate Ensures attendance and preparation time are recorded Verifies roles and QI understanding Introduces materials to be inspected QI Meeting Management: Ensures participants work as a team Keeps meeting objective, professional, and friendly Avoids needless criticism and discussions of “style” Directs the recording of Rework Item information Rules on unresolved problems Keeps the meeting moving Ensures that any failure to inspect is reported Contributes as an inspector QI Meeting Conclusion: Summarizes the results Directs the Recorder to review all Rework Items Gains final consensus on problems Assigns inspectors for verification responsibilities Determines if reinspection is needed After QI — Reader: Reads or paraphrases sections with Rework Items. His role may include the following tasks: Before QI es for session by pre-reading and paraphrasing During QI Paraphrases documents or review code as directed by the Inspection Team Maintains the pace of the meeting Presents material with clarity and understanding Contributes as an inspector After QI — Inspector: Reviews distributed information and documents potential Rework Items. His role may include the following tasks: Before QI References QI Checklists as well as team or personal reference material Inspects the Deliverable(s) Ensures Author receives Rework Items prior to the QI During QI Explains Rework Items provided to the Author Identifies additional Rework Items at the meeting Highlights positive product characteristics Avoids discussing ‘style’ differences After QI Verifies re-work as assigned Participates in re-inspection as necessary Recorder: Records Rework Items and Inspection Summary Information. His role may include the following tasks: Before QI — During QI Updates QI record for Rework Items and meeting results when practicable and available Records Rework Items and meeting results during the session on the QI Meeting Report if needed. Contributes as an inspector After QI Provides the Author with legible reports as needed Initiator's Direct Manager: may be an additional role for the Project Team Leader, which may include the following tasks: Before QI Establishes schedules which allow adequate preparation, review, and follow-up time Reviews the QI Plan participants, materials and schedule with the author Ensures materials delivered to inspectors During QI Determines if the deliverable being inspected has been thoroughly reviewed by the participants and the following items taken in account: Project plan considerations Performance considerations System maintainability and standards Exception and limits processing Test preparation (plan or script) Others Determines if a reinspection is required After QI Ensures all Rework Items have been verified and/or reinspected

[0243] Detailed Description of the Quality Inspection Process:

[0244] In step 702 of FIG. 7, the quality inspection process begins by planning a quality inspection. Table 28 shows the actors, the inputs, and outputs associated with this task. TABLE 28 Step 702 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Discuss QI Plan Team — QI Meeting Plan Leader, Author

[0245] In step 704, the planned quality inspection is prepared following the tasks as shown in Table 29 below. TABLE 29 Step 704 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Open QI Records Author QI Meeting QI Records with Plan status ‘Opened’ Schedule Date, Time Author — QI Meeting and Location for QI Report created Meeting Distribute Material Author Inspection — within Reviewers Material If Deliveries must be Author, Deliveries Pre-inspected pre-inspected, then Inspectors Deliveries Deliveries are distributed and preinspected Update QI Records with Author, QI QI Records + Rework Items Inspectors Records, Rework Items Pre-inspected deliveries

[0246] The first task is to open a quality inspection record in the Quality Inspection Tracking Database 106, comprising several fields defining topics related to the specific inspection as illustrated in table 30 below: TABLE 30 QI Record Fields Description Raising Date DD/MM/YY Quality Inspection Record Id (Automatically generated) Status Opened/Closed Priority Low/Medium/High Description (Text) Detailed Description (Text) Objectives (List of objectives) Author (Name) Inspectors (List of Names) Rework Items (List of rework items) Responsible for Approval (Name) Due Date DD/MM/YY Closing Date DD/MM/YY

[0247] If a topic requires further review or generates an action, this is called a Rework Item, and a corresponding record is stored in the QIT database 106. Every Inspection record is independent and stores all related information including history, status and pending rework items. Every Rework Item record is associated with one and only one Inspection Record, and has an Actioner who is responsible for the item.

[0248] Table 31 below shows an example of a Rework item assigned to an inspection record: TABLE 31 Rework item Fields Description Quality Inspection Record (Title) Rework Item Status Pending, Finished Application (Name of application) Estimated Effort (Days) Rework Item Open Date DD/MM/YY Rework Item Target Date DD/MM/YY QIR Target Date DD/MM/YY Rework Item Owner (Name) Rework Item Subject (Title) Description (Comments & Attachments) Close Comment (Comment)

[0249] The first step further includes a QI meeting preparation covering the tasks of the last four rows of table 29.

[0250] In step 706 the meeting is held, as shown in Table 32 below: TABLE 32 Step 706 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS If preparation and Moderator QI QI Meeting Report attendees are Meeting updated adequate, update QI Report Meeting Report Determine how to All QI — review documents Records + Rework Items Review Rework Items Author, Rework — Inspectors Items Assign Origin, Moderator Rework Rework Items Category and Severity Items updated to Rework Items Summary of Results Recorder QI QI Meeting Report Meeting updated Report Decide if reinspection All — New QI Records, if is required required If reinspection is not Moderator Rework Rework Items required, assign Items assigned Rework Items to Inspectors Complete QI Meeting Recorder QI QI Meeting Report Report Meeting finished Report + Rework Items

[0251] Once the meeting is completed, a reinspecting and verifying step 708 is processed. Step 708 follows the tasks as mentioned in Table 33 below: TABLE 33 Step 708 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Update QI Records with Author QI QI Records Updated Rework Items Records + Rework Items Solve Rework Items and Author QI QI Records Updated update QI Records with Records with results results Review results or Inspectors QI QI Records Updated Rework Items Records + with review check Rework Items Check all Inspectors Team QI — have reviewed Rework Leader Records Items

[0252] Finally, the QI process ends with a measuring and delivering step 710 which follows the tasks as mentioned in Table 34 below: TABLE 34 Step 710 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Close corresponding QI Author QI QI Records with Records when all + Team Records status = ‘closed’ associated Rework Leader Items are solved Include Closed QI Author — QI Meeting Plan Records in next QI + Team Plan, if necessary Leader

[0253] The QI's process is accessible thru a GUI interface which allows a user to open/up-date inspection records and rework item records in the different phases of the process. The inspection/rework item records are stored in the Quality Inspection Tracking Database 106, which also implements automatic procedures for communicating status changes to the interested parties, and for creating lists of opened/closed QI records for reporting and management purposes. The user interface not only shows the list of the Inspection Records, but also the list of associated Rework Items for every Record. Standard buttons in the navigation area provide different views of the Records (by number, action manager, priority or status). Preferably, there is also a view for the checklists that the action manager of the inspection completes for the deliverables or products to be inspected. The Inspection Records are opened during a Quality Inspection Meeting from a form available in the QM Database 110.

[0254] In the Olympics application, a Lotus Notes database implements the whole system. Several Lotus Notes scripts implement the logic required to support automatic workflows and notifications of the related process. The interface offers to the user the following views: Inspections by number, Inspections by Action Manager, Inspections by Priority, Inspection Checklists, Pre-Open Inspections, Open Documents, Inspected Documents, and Closed Documents. These views are particularly adapted to the specific example; for other applications, any variant of the views may be implemented.

[0255] Description of the QMT Process:

[0256] Referring again to FIG. 2, column 212 shows a Quality Metrics Tracking Process ‘QMT’ that is now described with reference to FIG. 8. The ‘QMT’ process tracks metrics for the Processes and/or the Code produced by the different projects.

[0257] Every time a Project Team produces a Measurement Report, the report is stored in QMD, and the QMO is notified. Then, QMO is responsible for analyzing the measurement report and raising Quality Management Actions, if necessary. In a similar way, QMO controls the scheduling of these reports. Any delay or inaccuracy regarding the Project Team Quality Plan is studied. On a regular basis, and preferably every month, an automatic procedure consolidates all countable and logging data in the Quality Management Database. This consolidated report is discussed in the Quality Management Meetings.

[0258] Definitions for the QMT Process:

[0259] Defect Tracking Database. This database includes all information regarding defects opened and closed, tracking the defects through the different possible status. Both testers and developers update the database with information regarding defects processing. This database is not one of the databases 100 of the Quality Management Framework.

[0260] Planning Metrics. Both QMO and the people (Executives, Team Leaders) interested in statistics define what information is required for decision support based on metrics. This is part of the Quality Plan of every team. QMO studies technical constraints and provides solution to support information needs.

[0261] Producing Process Metrics. As all processes regarding Quality Management are in a common platform and supported by the same tools, QMO tracks process performance and usage by applying metrics to the implemented workflows.

[0262] Producing Product Metrics (for traditional code). Based on information generated by the Defect Tracking process, QMO produces metrics used for supporting decision making and statistics about the Products quality. This information is used temporally, that is, keeping track of history in order to observe evolution in the performance of the teams, both development and test.

[0263] Producing Product Metrics (for Lotus Notes code). The technology used for producing metrics for Lotus Notes is different, because the technology used to produce the code is different. The parameters for calculating complexity are different, and so different tools are used. Otherwise, this step is the same as the step immediately above.

[0264] Analyzing Metrics. Once metrics are produced, experts analyze them and arrive at conclusions.

[0265] Producing Executive Summaries. The objective of the previous assesment is to publish results (at different levels, depending on receivers of information) and to generate Quality Actions for continous improvement. Summaries are produced by QMO regularly (time, releases) and actions are proposed by management.

[0266] Roles for QMT Process:

[0267] Project Test Team. A group of people in charge of testing the software components and the documentation. They update the Defect Tracking Database.

[0268] Project Team Leader. The person responsible for a Project or Sub-project within the Software Development Organization. He is responsible for the Quality Plan of his team, so he decides which metrics are required for detecting inefficiencies in the development process or inaccuracies in the code produced. He uses metrics to analyze performance and its temporal evolution.

[0269] Application Delivery Team: a group of people in charge of Configuration Management, which consists of collecting, compiling, packaging, and delivering software components. They keep control of versioning and ownership of these components.

[0270] Metrics Analyzer. An independent expert in Quality Metrics, who does not belong to any Project Team. His objective is to design the planned metrics and analyze all data produced afterwards.

[0271] Executive: A Member of the Board of Directors, who is interested in the results of the analysis.

[0272] Detailed Description of the QMT Process:

[0273] Metrics are needed in order to arrive at conclusions regarding Quality based on numeric criteria. Metrics are devised not only for code, but also for Processes. For code metrics, called here Product Metrics, two different technologies are considered: “traditional code” for code made using procedural or object oriented programming languages (such as the well-known C, C++, Java languages . . . ) and “Lotus Notes code”, based on a ‘Lotus Notes’ database and template programming.

[0274] By this process, Project Teams provide information to QMO in order to build statistics and reports. These reports, which are periodically distributed to Team Leaders and the Executives, are used to monitor Quality achievements in the Organization. The problems detected become input to the Defect Prevention process and to the Quality Management Actions process, as will be described later.

[0275] The Quality Management Office in the Software Development Organization is responsible for collecting and analyzing the evolution of the project using Process and Product Metrics. These topics are reviewed based on information stored in a specific area of the Quality Management Database. Specific logic is provided to support automatic procedures for generating reports and communicating status to the interested parties.

[0276] The content of the database includes records for Process metrics, Product metrics, and Reports. Every record is independent, and contains in dedicated fields the relevant information including source and calculated data.

[0277] Tables 35 through 45 show the Process and Product Metrics, as well as Reports records, with their associated tasks. TABLE 35 Application Measures Record for traditional code Fields Description Application (Application Name) Alias (Application Nickname) DB (Name of test database where data comes from) Team Project A, Project B . . . In Test Yes, No General - Status Red, Yellow, Green General - Reuse Index (Percentage) General - Technology (Comment) Product Difficulty - 1 to 5 Complexity Index Product Difficulty - 1 to 5 Intrafaces Product Difficulty - 1 to 5 Interfaces Product Difficulty - Timing 1 to 5 & Serialization Product Difficulty - Design 1 to 5 Product Difficulty - Existing 1 to 5 Documentation Product Difficulty - Scope 1 to 5 Code Metrics - Source Code - (Number) # of files Code Metrics - Source Code - (Number) Size of files Code Metrics - Source Code - (Number) Lines of Code Code Metrics - Source Code - (Number) # of statements Code Metrics - Object Code - (Number) # of files Code Metrics - Object Code - (Number) Size of files Code Metrics - Deliverables - (Number) # of files Code Metrics - Deliverables - (Number) Size of files Code Metrics - Deliverables - (Number) Lines of Code Code Metrics - Deliverables - (Number) # of statements Quality Inspections - # of (Number) Records Quality Inspections - # of (Number) Rework Items Quality Inspections - # of (Number) RI closed Quality Inspections - % of (Percentage) RI closed Estimated Cost (Days) Defect Tracking - Status Red, Yellow, Green Defect Tracking - Number of (Number) Defects Defect Tracking - Go to (Reference to Test Database Defects View) Defect Tracking - Defects by (List of numbers) Severity Defect Tracking - Defects by (List of numbers) Phase Defect Tracking - Test (List of Percentages) Efectiveness by Phase Defect Tracking - Start Date DD/MM/YY of Phase Defect Tracking - Finish DD/MM/YY Date of Phase Defect Tracking - % (List of Percentages) Completed by Phase Defect Tracking - Defect (List of numbers) Density by Phase Defect Tracking - Projection (List of numbers) of Defects and Density by Phase Defect Tracking - Defect (List of numbers) Density for Severity 1 and 2 by Phase Defect Tracking - Defects by (List of numbers) State Defect Tracking - Defects (List of Days) Age by Severity General Parameters - TC (Team Connection Family family Name) General Parameters - Based (Type of source of metrics) on General Parameters - TC (Team Connection Release Release Name) General Parameters - TC (Team Connection Work area Workarea Name) General Parameters - TC (Team Connection Driver Driver Name) General Parameters - TC (Team Connection Version Version Name) General Parameters - Source Yes, No Code Metric General Parameters - Object Yes, No Code Metric General Parameters - Yes, No Deliverables Metric General Parameters - Deliverables Yes, No Code Metric General Parameters - C++, Java . . . Programming Language General Parameters - Source (List of files extensions) files General Parameters - Object (List of files extensions) files General Parameters - Deliverables (List of files extensions) files Comments (Comments about metrics calculation)

[0278] TABLE 36 Application Measures Record for Lotus Notes code Fields Description Application (Application Name) Group (Group of Application Name) Team Project A, Project B . . . In Test Yes, No General - Status Red, Yellow, Green General - Reuse Index (Percentage) General - Technology (Comment) Product Difficulty - 1 to 5 Complexity Index Product Difficulty - 1 to 5 Intrafaces Product Difficulty - 1 to 5 Interfaces Product Difficulty - Timing 1 to 5 & Serialization Product Difficulty - Design 1 to 5 Product Difficulty - Existing 1 to 5 Documentation Product Difficulty - Scope 1 to 5 Code Metrics - Link (Reference to Notes Development Database) Code Metrics - Executable (Number) size Code Metrics - # of Actions (Number) Code Metrics - # of Agents (Number) Code Metrics - # of Fields (Number) Code Metrics - # of Forms (Number) Code Metrics - # of subforms (Number) Code Metrics - # of Columns (Number) Code Metrics - # of Views (Number) Code Metrics - # of Scripts (Number) Code Metrics - Deliverables - (Number) Number of files Code Metrics - Size of files (Number) Quality Inspections - # of (Number) Records Quality Inspections - # of (Number) Rework Items Quality Inspections - # of (Number) RI closed Quality Inspections - % of (Percentage) RI closed Estimated Cost (Days) Defect Tracking - Status Red, Yellow, Green Defect Tracking - Number of (Number) Defects Defect Tracking - Go to (Reference to Test Database Defects View) Defect Tracking - Defects by (List of numbers) Severity Defect Tracking - Defects by (List of numbers) Phase Defect Tracking - Test (List of Percentages) Effectiveness by Phase Defect Tracking - Start Date DD/MM/YY of Phase Defect Tracking - Finish DD/MM/YY Date of Phase Defect Tracking - % (List of Percentages) Completed by Phase Defect Tracking - Defect (List of numbers) Density by Phase Defect Tracking - Projection (List of numbers) of Defects and Density by Phase Defect Tracking - Defect (List of numbers) Density for Severity 1 and 2 by Phase Defect Tracking - Defects by (List of numbers) State Defect Tracking - Defects (List of Days) Age by Severity Comments (Comments about metrics calculation)

[0279] TABLE 37 Other Quality Measures Record Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Subject (Title) Project Teams Affected Project A, Project B . . . Author/s (List of Names) Description (Comment) Attachments (Files)

[0280] TABLE 38 Quality Status Report Record Fields Description Date DD/MM/YY Subject (Title) Project Teams Affected Project A, Project B . . . Author/s (List of Names) Description (Comment) Attachments (Files)

[0281] TABLE 39 Quality Management Measures Record Fields Description Risk Report: # Open, # Closed, (List of numbers and # Total percentages) Risk Report: # Solved, # Under (List of numbers) Control, # Not Critical by Now, # Open Issues Report: # Open, # (List of numbers and Closed, # Total percentages) Issues Report: # Solved, # (List of numbers) Under Control, # Not Critical by Now, # Open Changes Report: # Open, # (List of numbers and Closed, # Total percentages) Changes Report: # Accepted, # (List of numbers and Deferred, # Rejected, # percentages) Withdrawn Changes Report: Estimated (Days) Effort QM Activity: # of documents in (Number) QMD QM Activity: # of documents in (Number) QITS QM Activity: # of documents in (Number) QMATS QMD Access: # of DB accesses, (List of Numbers) # of DB writes, # of DB reads QITS Access: # of DB accesses, (List of Numbers) # of DB writes, # of DB reads QMATS Access: # of DB (List of Numbers) accesses, # of DB writes, # of DB reads # of Meetings by Type (List of Numbers and percentages) # of Quality Documents by (List of Numbers and Project Team percentages) # of Quality Actions by Status (List of Numbers and percentages) # of Quality Actions by (List of Numbers and Project Team percentages) # of Quality Actions by (List of Numbers and Category percentages) # of Tasks (Total, Pending, (List of Numbers) Done) Mean number of Tasks per (Number) Action Estimated Effort of all Tasks (Days) Estimated Benefit of all Tasks (Days) # of Inspection Meetings by (List of Numbers and Project Team Percentages) # of Inspection Meetings with (List of Numbers and Associated Inspection Records Percentages) by status # of Inspection Records by (List of Numbers and Status Percentages) # of Rework Items by Status (List of Numbers) Mean number of Rework Items by (Number) Quality Inspection # of Inspection Records per (List of Numbers) Application # of Rework Items per (List of Numbers) Application # of Closed Rework Items per (List of Numbers) Application % of Closed Rework Items per (List of Percentages) Application Estimated Cost of Rework Items (Days) per Application # of Documents per workflow (List of Numbers) and status % of Documents per workflow (List of Percentages) and status Total # of Documents per (List of Numbers) workflow Total # of Documents per (List of Numbers) status # of Documents by Project Team (List of Numbers) % of Documents by Project Team (List of Percentages) # of Documents by Type (List of Numbers) % of Documents by Type (List of Percentages) # of Revision Records (Number) # of Comments by Document (List of Numbers) Total number of comments to (Number) documents

[0282] As shown in FIG. 8, the QMT process begins at step 802 with the task of planning the Metrics to be produced and analyzed. This operation is preferably done during the preparation of the Project Teams Quality Plans.

[0283] Step 802 is divided into several tasks as shown in Table 40, which indicates the tasks in the first left hand column. The second column indicates the actors that perform the corresponding tasks. The third column indicates the inputs used for performing the corresponding tasks, and the fourth column indicates the outputs resulting from the tasks: TABLE 40 Step 802 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Build Metrics Planning Project — Project section in Team Team Leader Quality Quality Plan Plan Certification of QMO Project Certified Quality Plan Quality Plan Quality Plan Discuss objectives of Project Project Metrics metrics Team Quality Plan goals Leader, workproduct Executive, QMO Produce Metrics Project Metrics goals, Metrics Requirements Team Project Specification Leader, QMO Quality Plan Implement Metrics QMO, Metrics Metrics Infrastructure Project Specification Infrastructure Test Team, implemented Application in Delivery QMF Team Write Metrics Manual QMO Metrics Metrics Specification, Manual Metrics infrastructure Education to the team QMO, Metrics Manual Metrics Project deployed Team Leader

[0284] The first task is to build the Metrics Planning in the Team Quality Plan. Each Project Team defines the data to be measured regarding the respective process, code size, defects and so on. Next, the QMO certifies the Quality Plan, including the Metrics. The process of Quality Plan certification is intended to establish a standard and a common view of the objectives of Quality Management among all the teams.

[0285] The Executives in the Software Development Organization then review the Quality Plans, and propose for each project, the parameters to be controlled. This results in a document with the final objectives of producing Metrics in that team. Then, with this metrics goals, the project team leader writes a document of requirements, which is the entry point for the next task.

[0286] This task consists of implementing the infrastructure needed to collect the Metrics defined in the requirements. In order to help teams collect the Metrics, two final tasks are required: to write a user's manual (which should include all previous information: summary of Quality Plan, Metrics goals, specification and build of infrastructure) and to educate the team. Once the team has received all the information, and the infrastructure is tested in a production environment, the process goes to step 804.

[0287] In step 804, Process Metrics are produced as planned while the Project is going on. Again, this step is preferably divided into tasks with appropriate actors/inputs and outputs as shown on the following table: TABLE 41 Step 804 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Collect Process Information QMO QMF Process Data from QMF Produce Process QMO Process Process Statistics in Statistics Data QMF

[0288] The first task is to collect process information from the QMF system. This is automatically done by QMF using internal infrastructure. As all processes that require control in the Organization are automated using the QMF tools, all information (such as number and type of items of each process, documents generated and so on) regarding these processes is available in the system.

[0289] The next task is to produce statistics. On a regular basis, QMO uses a QMF consolidation tool which collects current statistical information in the database, computes statistics, and stores the statistics as records which can be retrieved any time by date. Alternatively, this process can be triggered automatically.

[0290] In step 806, Product Metrics (both for traditional code and Lotus Notes code) are produced as planned while the Project is going on. Again, this step is preferably divided into tasks with appropriate actors/inputs and outputs as shown in the following table: TABLE 42 Step 806 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Collect Product Applica- Code Product Data Information tion Delivery Office Include Product Information QMO Product Data Product Data in in QMF in QMF proper format Collect Defect Project Defects Defect Data Information Test Team Include Defect Information QMO Defect Data Defect Data in in QMF in QMF proper format Produce Product QMO Product Product Statis- Statistics Data, Defect tics in QMF Data

[0291] The first task is to produce basic information regarding the code. Next, QMO takes the Product data and converts it into a proper format to be included in QMF, as defined in the Metrics specifications from the previous step 804. Then, similar to the way in which the Application Delivery team collects information regarding the code, the Test team collects basic information regarding defects. Categorization of defects based on deliverables must be consistent with the categorization of product data by application. This is required in order to produce useful statistics. The Next task is, again, to include the information provided by the Test team in a proper format into QMF. This is done by QMO. The last task is to produce the statistics according to the Metrics requirements defined in the first step 802.

[0292] In next step 808, Process and Product Metrics Reports are produced as planned on a regular basis. Again, this step is preferably divided into tasks with appropriate actors/inputs and outputs as shown on the following table: TABLE 43 Step 808 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Publish Process Metrics QMO Process Process Metrics Metrics Report in QMF Publish Product Metrics QMO Product Product Metrics for traditional code Statistics Report in QMF in QMF Publish Product Metrics QMO Product Product Metrics for Lotus Notes code Statistics Report in QMF in QMF

[0293] The first task is to publish Process Metrics. Using statistics stored in QMF, QMO represents the data in a summarized, comprehensive way, using charts and aggregating data in a form that is ready to be inspected and analyzed by experts. Graphics and aggregated statistics produced in this step are generated both automatically and manually by QMO. Next, QMO does the same with statistics regarding the code. This must be done as many times as different technologies or significant groups of applications with different Metrics objectives are defined. In the example, two different tasks, one for traditional code (such as procedural or object-oriented programming languages like C, C++) and one for Lotus Notes programming are distinguished. However, any implementation of a QMF system may include its own approach.

[0294] In step 810, Process and Product Metrics are analyzed, generating conclusions based on experience and expert knowledge. Again, this step is preferably divided into tasks with appropriate actors/inputs and outputs as shown in the following table: TABLE 44 Step 810 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Generate Conclusions QMO, Metrics Process Quality Assessment on Process Metrics Analyser Metrics on Report Processes in QMF Generate Conclusions QMO, Metrics Product Quality Assessment on Product Metrics Analyser, Metrics on Product Project Team Report Leaders in QMF

[0295] The first task is to generate a conclusions report regarding the Process Metrics published in the previous step. Although this task is lead by the QMO, it is very likely dependent upon expert opinion and consultancy. The second task is to generate a conclusions report regarding Product Metrics.

[0296] The last step of FIG. 10 is a closing step 812, which includes the tasks of producing Executive Summaries and generating Quality Actions for continuous improvement of Processes of both Project Management and Development, as shown in the next table: TABLE 45 Step 812 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Publish Quality QMO, Test Quality Quality Assessments for Team Assessment on Assessment Test Team Processes and Report for on Products Test Team Publish Quality QMO, Project Quality Quality Assessments for Team Leaders Assessment on Assessment Project Team Processes and Report for Leaders on Products Project Team Leaders Publish Quality QMO, Quality Quality Assessments for Executives Assessment on Assessment Executives Processes and Report for on Products Executives Generate Quality QMO, Executive Quality Quality Actions regarding Assessment Actions Processes Report for based on Executives Process Metrics in QMF Generate Quality QMO, Test All Quality Quality Actions regarding Team, Project Assessment Actions Product Team Leaders, Reports based on Executives Product Metrics in QMF

[0297] The first task is to publish a Quality Assessment for the Test Team, considering the information that might be useful to them (defined in the first step of the process). The second and third tasks are to publish similar Quality Assessment reports for the Project Team Leaders and the Executives. These Assessment Reports, signed by QMO and the Quality experts who generated the conclusions in previous step 810, are used as entry data for the two last tasks, which consist of generating Quality Actions for continuous improvement. Quality Actions, may be generated by the responsible persons of each team simply by looking at the conclusions, or in further Defect Prevention or on-purpose Quality Management meetings.

[0298] The QMT process is accessible through a user friendly interface, such as the Lotus Notes Graphical User Interface (GUI) from Lotus Corporation, and offers to the user several views accessible through standard buttons in the navigation area: Quality Measurements views of Project Plans, Product Development Metrics, Defect Tracking Metrics, Process Metrics, Product Metrics by Application and Group of Applications, or Other Metrics, as well as special Reports views of Metrics, Historical data by date, and Quality Management data.

[0299] In each view, the main parameters of every record are available with brief descriptions. When a new Metric or Report is created, the record includes all the relevant data. The status of the data automatically changes, helping the user to follow the workflow defined by the Quality Metrics System Tracking Process.

[0300] Description of the Defect Prevention Process:

[0301] Each of the quality processes 201 to 212 generates respective quality reports as indicated by block 214 of FIG. 2.

[0302] The quality reports are analyzed by Project Teams in order to identify potential problems (block 216) associated with the quality reports' conclusions or results. The problems may be related to the products, such as code defects or the problems may be organizational issues or troubles. When a problem is detected, a Defect Prevention process (block 218), which is a continuous improvement process, starts.

[0303] The Defect Prevention Process ‘DPP’ is intended to be a method for studying data in order to improve Quality. An advantage of the invention is the integration of such a process into the complete Quality Management Framework.

[0304] The Defect Prevention Process may be conducted periodically to track Quality in the Project Teams, or specifically on-demand to solve a particular problem.

[0305] Definitions for the Defect Prevention Process:

[0306] DPP Process Step Kick-Off or Review Meeting: In this meeting, the Team Leader wanting to establish a DPP process in his organization explains how DPP works and its objectives, and gets team involvement to identify some generic defects and causes which need to be tracked. Metrics or areas of focus are identified for further Causal Analysis Meetings. If DPP kickoff has already been conducted, a Review of all the Actions identified in previous meetings should be done.

[0307] DPP Kick-Off Package: The kick-off package contains the materials that the team leader believes are useful to help the team prevent defects and get the job done more efficiently. It preferably contains three sections: a Process section (descriptions of methods, tools, guidelines, checklists, inputs, and outputs), a Quality section (description of DPP and its practice, inspection checklists, common error lists, error prone modules) and a Contacts section (cooperation or dependencies on other teams and contacts to these teams).

[0308] DPP Causal Analysis Meeting: Focusing on concrete problems identified (previously or during the meeting), the team tries to identify causes or commonalities for them. The discussion should be open to all the team members, not just the managers.

[0309] Problem: A Problem, in terms of DPP, is not only a code defect, but may be anything that teams identify as contributing to inefficiencies or further errors in the processes or workproducts (defects, issues, or troubles).

[0310] Cause Category: During Kick-off or Causal Analysis meetings, typical Cause Categories are identified, for example: communications, oversight, education, transcription or process.

[0311] Probing Questions & Answers: Sometimes, it is not easy to identify in which category a problem fits. For this reason, probing questions may be prepared for each category. Typical examples are:

[0312] For communication: what was not communicated, from whom, to whom?

[0313] For oversight: what was not considered thoroughly?

[0314] For education: what was not understood?

[0315] For transcription: what procedure was being used?

[0316] For process: what aspect of the process encouraged the defect?

[0317] Quality Management Action (QMA): Any initiative for improving Quality of the Products or Processes managed within the Software Development Organization. The QMA are stored in the Quality Management Action database 108.

[0318] Generic Analysis: In addition to problem analysis itself, DPP Causal Analysis Meetings should include generic analysis of the everyday work of the team. This is articulated through “Trends and Commonalities”, “What went right” and “What went wrong” comments.

[0319] “Trends and Commonalities”: Common types of problems, a trend in a cause category, the cause itself of the process step created (education problems, oversight in the design phase) and common types of suggested actions (tools, documentation).

[0320] “What went right”: Things that have enhanced the productivity or effectiveness of the team (tools), new practices that prevent defects (better communications), aspects that are considerably better than in previous steps.

[0321] “What went wrong”: Things that have reduced the productivity of the team, caused or created problems, or which are considerably worse than in previous steps.

[0322] Preparing a DPP Kick-Off or Review Meeting: The first step of DPP. The DPP Initiator defines the objectives of DPP, selects important information, selects people to attend the meetings, and sets up the meeting agenda.

[0323] Conducting a DPP Kick-Off or Review Meeting: In a Kick-off meeting, the Initiator explains what DPP is, promotes Attendees participation, and collects information to open Quality Actions or to prepare future Causal Analysis Meetings.

[0324] In a Review Meeting, in addition, previously opened Quality Actions related to DPP are tracked and evaluated.

[0325] Preparing a DPP Causal Analysis Meeting: All the activities required to prepare the Causal Analysis Meeting: writing an agenda, selecting Attendees, setting up the meeting, distributing material, etc.

[0326] Conducting a DPP Causal Analysis Meeting: Formal process of opening, conducting, and closing the meeting, trying to get useful information from all participants. The result is a list of Quality Actions to improve the operation of the Team performing the review.

[0327] Tracking Quality Management Actions: Follow-on of the agreed actions, promoting performance in the execution and closing of them, as well as evaluating the impact of their accomplishment in terms of reducing causes of problems.

[0328] Roles for the Defect Prevention Process:

[0329] Initiator: a person who plans the DPP meeting, setting up its expectations and agenda, and selecting Attendees. Typically this is a Project Team Leader.

[0330] Moderator: a person who leads the meeting, keeping in mind the objectives, helping the Attendees to work as a team, and promoting participation of all Attendees suitable to contributing to the results in a significant way.

[0331] Recorder: a person responsible for capturing and recording all minutes and conclusions of the meeting in the QMD. He opens Quality Actions, including cross references for easier tracking afterwards.

[0332] Attendee: a person who actively attends the DPP meeting and contributes to the results with opinions, conclusions, or decisions, or by performing follow-on actions.

[0333] Observer: A person who attends the DPP meeting but does not participate actively, and has no defined role.

[0334] Detailed description of the Defect Prevention Process:

[0335]FIG. 9 shows a DPP flowchart.

[0336] An Initiator calls a ‘DPP’ meeting after collecting information and selecting hypotheses to check. Interested parties then meet to analyze the hypotheses and offer their opinions and wisdom. However, the meeting Moderator is responsible for focusing the discussion on the critical points. A systematic approach is required. The tools integrated in the Quality Management Framework of the present invention allow the DPP meeting Attendees to categorize problems and thereby to develop common actions to minimize these problems within categories. The actions are tracked using the Quality Management Actions Process described later. The DPP collects information structured as Defect Abstract, Cause Category, Probing Questions and Answers, and Quality Actions based on Defect Analysis. The systematic approach of the invention allows grouping defects into categories and generating generic solution to the main problems, as the problems may now be ranked.

[0337] Step 902 prepares Kick-Off or Review Meetings. Table 46 below lists the different tasks of this first step: TABLE 46 Step 902 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Identify subjects for Initiator — Material for DPP DPP Process and search for material Schedule Date, Time DPP Material DPP Kick-off and Location for a DPP Initiator for DPP Meeting Report Kick-Off Meeting and created in QMD select Attendees and Observers Distribute Material Initiator Material — within Attendees and for DPP Observers

[0338] Once prepared, the meeting is conducted in step 904. Table 47 below lists the different tasks of the conducting step: TABLE 47 Step 904 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS DPP Introductory Initiator DPP — Education Educational Material Review internal Moderator, — DPP Kick-off processes and defects Attendees Meeting Report updated Open QMAs based on QMO — QMAs opened, DPP previous review Kick-off Meeting Report updated Review Previously Attendees, DPP QMAs DPP Kick-off opened QMA and Recorder Meeting Report evaluate results updated Agree on follow-on Initiator, — DPP Kick-off actions and close Moderator, Meeting Report meeting Attendees finished

[0339] Step 906 tracks Quality Actions opened in step 904. The tasks are described in detail later with reference to FIG. 10.

[0340] In step 908, a DPP causal analysis meeting is held. Table 48 below summarizes the tasks. TABLE 48 Step 908 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Identify subjects for Initiator — Material for DPP DPP Causal Analysis and search for material Schedule Date, Time Initiator Material DPP Causal Analysis and Location for a DPP for DPP Meeting Report Causal Analysis created in QMD Meeting and select Attendees and Observers Distribute Material Initiator Material — within Attendees and for DPP Observers

[0341] Again, once prepared, the causal analysis meeting is conducted in step 910 as described in Table 49 below: TABLE 49 Step 910 TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Introduce topics, Initiator Material DPP Causal Analysis objectives and material for DPP Meeting for current Causal Report updated Analysis Perform Defect Initiator, Material DPP Causal Analysis Analysis Moderator, for DPP Meeting discussion Attendees Report updated Review internal Moderator, — DPP Causal Analysis processes and defects Attendees Meeting Report updated Open QMAs based on QMO — QMAs opened, DPP previous reviews Causal Analysis Meeting Report updated Perform Generic Moderator, — DPP Causal Analysis Analysis Attendees Meeting Report updated Agree on follow-on Initiator, — DPP Kick-off actions and close Moderator, Meeting Report meeting Attendees finished

[0342] Finally, tracking of Quality Management Actions is performed in step 912, as described below with reference to FIG. 10. The process loops back to step 902 when appropriate.

[0343] The Defect Prevention Process is accessible to users through a GUI interface, such as the Lotus Notes interface. The tasks of the process are conveyed by specific forms to be completed using standard navigation buttons.

[0344] Description of the Quality Management Action Tracking Process:

[0345] Block 220 of FIG. 2, which represents the Quality management action tracking process ‘QMAT’, is now described with reference to FIG. 10. Preferably this process is responsible for the Quality Management Office ‘QMO’, and consists of tracking Quality Management Actions. A Quality Management Action may be opened as a proposal by:

[0346] An External Process Evolution Review. During a Board of Directors Meeting, the person responsible for tracking the meeting may define a Quality Management Action to be performed, after general consensus.

[0347] A Project Status Meeting. In a similar way, during a Project Status Meeting, the person responsible for recording the meeting may define a Quality Management Action to be performed, after general consensus.

[0348] Quality Management Office. Based on Quality Management Action Proposals stored in the Quality Management Actions Database, QMO can upload these proposals to formal Actions.

[0349] Any person in the Organization who detects an issue which affects Quality should initiate a Quality Management Action to make QMO aware.

[0350] Quality Management Actions performance is reviewed during the Project Status Meetings. The information required for this Action follows the proper form.

[0351] The ‘QMAT’ process may be implemented in the Quality Management Actions Database 108. The objective is to improve internal processes and minimize risks by prevention and proaction.

[0352] Anyone in the Software Development Organization Project Team may be a QMA provider. Proposals are studied by the ‘QMO’ and, as necessary, are formally opened by assigning an Actioner, a Due Date, and a Priority. The Actioner and the other Notified people are together responsible for finding and implementing the corresponding Actions in order to solve the problem. Once the Actions have been finished and committed, the ‘QMO’ closes the incident. QMAs are tracked in the same Project Status Meetings as the Issues/Risks/Changes.

[0353] Definitions for the Quality Management Actions Process:

[0354] Quality Management Action (QMA): Any initiative for improving Quality in the Products or Processes managed within the Software Development Organization. The QMA are stored in the Quality Management Action database 108. Tracking is the QMO's responsibility.

[0355] To Raise a Quality Management Action: To create a QMA in the Quality Management Action database 108 with the status of “Proposal”.

[0356] To Open a Quality Management Action: After proper study of the Proposal, the Action changes to the status of “Opened” by assigning an Actioner, a Priority, and a Due Date.

[0357] To Commit a Quality Management Action: To consider the Action finished by the Actioner. The status of the Action changes to “Commited”.

[0358] To Close a Quality Management Action: the ‘QMO’ reviews the answer given by the Actioner and definitively closes or re-opens the Action.

[0359] Roles for the Quality Management Actions Process:

[0360] SDO member: Any person working for the Software Development Organization.

[0361] Executive: A member of the Board of Directors.

[0362] Project Status Group: Attendees to the Project Status Meetings. Typically, these are Project Team Leaders and the Software Development Organization Managers.

[0363] Quality Management Office: An Organization within the Software Development Organization responsible for Quality Management.

[0364] QMA Actioner: A person responsible for implementing or controlling the implementation of the necessary tasks to commit the QMA.

[0365] QMA Notified: A person related to the action, who is not responsible for the final result, but who may be critical to the solution proposed or implementated.

[0366] Detailed Description of the Quality Management Actions Process:

[0367] In FIG. 10, step 1010, a Quality Management Action is raised and a QMA record is created as described in the following table 50: TABLE 50 - Step 1010 - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Create a QMA record in SDO N/A A QMA with status QMAT Member “Proposal” Fill Date and QMA id Automatic Date QMA Proposal in the QMA record Communicate to QMO new Automatic QMA List of QMA record created Proposal Proposals

[0368] Table 51 below shows an exemplary QMA record: TABLE 51 - QMA Record - Fields Description Raising Date DD/MM/YY Quality Management Action Id (Automatically generated) Status Proposal/Opened/Committed/ Closed Priority Low/Medium/High Description (Text) Detailed Description (Text) Objectives (List of objectives) Responsible for Action (Name) Actions performed (List of actions) Responsible for Approval (Name) Due Date DD/MM/YY Closing Date DD/MM/YY

[0369] After the creation of the QMA record, the process goes to step 1012, wherein a QMA is opened either by the QMO or by a Project Status Group or an Executive.

[0370] Tables 52 and 53 below illustrate the tasks relative to each alternative of step 1012: TABLE 52 - Step 1012 for QMO - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Review List of QMA QMO List of QMA List of QMA Proposals Proposals Proposals to be Opened and Closed Assign Actioner, QMO List of QMA QMA Opened Notified People, Proposals to Priority and Due Date be Opened for QMA Proposals to be Opened Close QMA Proposals QMO List of QMA QMA Closed for QMA Proposals not Proposals to to be Opened be Closed Communicate Actioners Automatic List of QMA — and Notified People of Opened the QMA Opened

[0371] TABLE 53 - Step 1012 for Status Group or Board of directors - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Create a QMA record in Executives/ A QMA with QMAT Project status Status G. “Proposal” Assign Actioner, Executives/ QMA QMA Opened Notified People, Project “Proposal” Priority and Due Date Status G. for QMA Proposal to be Opened Communicate Actioner Automatic QMA Opened — and Notified People of the QMA Opened

[0372] In step 1014, a committment on Quality Management Actions is performed through several tasks as summarized in table 54 below: TABLE 54 - Step 1014 - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Design necessary Actioner QMA QMA Opened + List actions to achieve Opened of Actions objectives of the assigned QMA Implement necessary Actioner QMA — actions to achieve + Opened + objectives of the Notified List of assigned QMA People Actions Describe list of Actioner QMA QMA Commited actions performed and Opened + commit the QMA List of Actions Communicate QMO Automatic QMA — Committed

[0373] Table 55 below shows an example of a task associated with a Quality Management Action Record: TABLE 55 - Associated Task - Fields Description Team Project A, Project B . . . Quality Action Document (Title) Task Status Pending, Finished Estimated Effort (Days) Estimated Benefit (Days) Task Open Date DD/MM/YY Task Target Date DD/MM/YY Action Target Date DD/MM/YY Task Owner (Name) Task Subject (Title) Description (Comments & Attachments) Close Comment (Comment)

[0374] Step 1016 closes the Quality Management Actions by performing the following tasks: TABLE 56 - Step 1016 - TASKS ACTORS INPUTS OUTPUTS Review Actions QMO QMA QMA Closed performed and check Committed objectives achieved Communicate Actioner Automatic QMA — and Opener that QMA Closed has been closed

[0375] As for all the previously described processes, the QMA tasks are accessible through a GUI interface, such as a Lotus Notes interface. The records and associated tasks are stored in the QMAT database 108. Every QMA record is independent (although it can be linked from a Meeting Report) and stores all related information including history, status, and pending tasks. Every Task record is associated with one and only one QMA, and has an Actioner who is responsible for completing it.

[0376] The views offered to the user show not only the list of the Actions, but also the list of associated Tasks for every Action. Standard buttons in the navigation area provide different views of the Actions (by project, number, action manager, priority or status, for example). When the action “New Quality Action” is required, a blank form is displayed on the user terminal to be completed as a Proposal. Then, depending on the status, different buttons help the user to follow the Quality Actions Process. The Quality Action document also has links to the associated Tasks, which are included automatically by pressing the corresponding button when the Action is opened.

[0377] Once again, the system of the present invention has been described for a specific application of an Olympic Games Project. Many variants as to the choice of the quality processes may be applied according the Development Project without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Particularly, a Quality Perception Survey Process and corresponding tools may be part of the Quality Processes to generate Quality Actions to improve the Quality Plan. 

1. A computer implemented method for operating a quality plan in a product development organization comprising a plurality of members and having quality objectives for product development projects, the method comprising the steps of: defining a set of quality processes adapted to quality objectives required by an organization; defining a set of computer implemented quality tools to collect data relative to product development projects, said quality tools comprising at least one database to store said collected data; for each quality process, aggregating a set of the stored data to generate a respective quality report; analyzing each quality report to detect problems in the product development projects; and using results of the analyzing step to initiate actions to resolve the problems detected, thereby improving quality of the product development projects.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of quality processes further comprises: a tracking process for identifying an issue in the product development projects; a meeting set-up and reporting process for preparing and conducting meetings among a plurality of members of the organization; a daily headlights reporting process for providing communications among members of the organization; a documentation process for reviewing and accepting documents generated by the product development projects; an inspection process for determining deliverables generated by the product development projects to be reworked; and a metrics process for producing metrics for the data relative to the product development projects.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising a survey process to evaluate a contribution of a member of the organization to a quality plan.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the tracking process further comprises the steps of: recording the identified issue within an issue storing area of the at least one database; assigning to the issue priority, a resolution target date, and an organization member responsible; and communicating to members of the organization actions taken to resolve the issue item.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the recorded issue comprises a field for indicating an open date, an issue identifier, a description of the issue, and an open status.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of updating the open status field to a close status for a resolved issue in the at least one database.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the meeting set-up and reporting process further comprises the steps of: creating a meeting record in a meeting storing area of the at least one database, the meeting record comprising a meeting date, a meeting place, a meeting attendee, and a meeting agenda; sending an invitation to the meeting attendee; and sending a meeting report after completion of the meeting to receivers.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of storing the meeting report in a reports storing area of the at least one database.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the daily headlights reporting process further comprises the steps of: generating headlight reports having headlights data; consolidating at a first predetermined frequency the headlights reports into a single executive report to be distributed to an executive distribution list; recording issue items in an issue memory area based on data of the executive report; and generating at a second predetermined frequency a headlight summary based on the executive reports.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of storing the executive report and the headlight summary in a reports memory area of the at least one database.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein the documentation process further comprises the steps of: classifying a document and assigning a document review workflow to the document according to whether an originator of the document is a member of the organization; and creating a document record in a document memory area of the at least one database.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the document is a technical document associated with a software product.
 13. The method of claim 2, wherein the inspection process further comprises the steps of: creating an inspection record in an inspection memory area of the at least one database, the inspection record comprising an open date, an inspection record identifier, a priority, a description of a deliverable, and a target date to complete the inspection process.
 14. The method of claim 2, wherein the metrics process further comprises the steps of: analyzing a quality metrics report, and recording the quality metrics report in a metrics memory area of the at least one database.
 15. The method of claim 2, wherein the metrics further comprise product metrics.
 16. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of analyzing each quality report further comprises the steps of: creating a meeting, and agreeing among attendees of the meeting on at least one quality action to resolve a detected problem.
 17. The method of claim 2, wherein the using results step further comprises the step of creating at least one quality action record in a quality actions memory area of the at least one database, the at least one quality action record comprising; an open date, a quality action identifier, a priority, a description of a quality action, and a target date to operate the quality action. 